Rhododendron ludlowii 'LILLY BELL SUN'

In 2015 German nursery Hellwig introduced their new series of dwarf rhododendrons named Lilly Bell. They are coloured selections of existing species where each variety presents the best of itself as far as flower colour and plant habit. The species included are campylogynum, keleticum, repens, ludolwi, and impeditum. Original plants are marketed in branded, colour-coded, 3-liter pots with the Lilly Bell fairy logo.

Lilly Bell Sun is a dwarf and profusely flowering variety of rhododendron ludlowii. Its evergreen leaves are small, leathery, ovate, and mid green, turning bronze in winter. It gets completely smothered with pale yellow, broadly campanulate flowers in mid spring. It grows slowly into a compact shrub of equal height and width when young (5-7 years), and when it reaches about 40 cm high it slows down vertical growth and starts spreading to sides, forming a dense cushion.

Dwarf rhododendrons seldom require deadheading. The roots are shallow, spreading to sides in search for nutrients. Never plant them too deep. The soil has to be acidic (pH 4.5-5.5), rich in humus, cool and always moist. Ideal soil mixture is peat with lime-free, light garden soil topped with leave-mould. It is hardy to min. -24°C (USDA zone 6) and is expected to take a couple of degrees lower.

Last update 17-01-2018